2001 Ford Escape XLT 4x4

It's rather uncharacteristic of Ford to be a latecomer in any portion of the light-truck or SUV game. From the original Bronco to the now-ubiquitous Explorer or even its bigger and biggest bothers, the Expedition and Excursion, the firm has historically been in the forefront as the stakes—and the entries—increased. This year, Ford moved aggressively to deal with the other end of the spectrum. With gasoline prices continuing at unpleasantly high levels and sales of conventional midsize and larger SUVs faltering, the arrival of the new Escape couldn't have come at a better time.

The transversely mounted 3.0L Duratec V-6 is standard on all 4x4 Escapes. This 200-hp aluminum-block V-6 is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission to give the 4x4 models a 3,500-pound towing capacity.

A contemporary appearance, highly functional design and affordable price tag rightly indicate this petite newcomer is aimed directly at younger, active-lifestyle buyers. The fact that the Escape does a great job of getting one from point A to point B only helps to broaden that native appeal.


The Escape is available in two trims: XLS, which starts at $18,035, and the more upscale XLT, which opens at $19,585. Other key choices include front- or 4-wheel drive and either a 2.0-liter/130-horsepower four or a 3.0-liter/200-horse V-6 engine. Although we focused on a 4-wheel-drive XLT V-6 with optional leather for this outing, which bottom-lined at $24,845, we also spent time in a $20,460 cloth-trimmed, front-drive XLS V-6 to gain additional perspective.

Joint Effort
Ford makes no secret that the Escape was a collaborative effort with its Japanese confederate, Mazda. Indeed, the Hiroshima-based firm markets its own variation on the theme, known as the Tribute. Like many of the current breed of "crossovers," the Escape/Tribute employs unibody construction. While the two do share common powertrains (which were contributed by Ford) and basic engineering (the primary responsibility of Mazda), their respective sheetmetal and interior trimouts are unique to maintain brand identity.

In line with the current "crossover" craze, the Escape combines car/minivan unibody construction with SUV-like ride height. The Ford rendering's sheetmetal differs somewhat from its Mazda Tribute sibling's.

Following an increasingly popular pattern, the Escape rides on a relatively long wheelbase (103.1 inches) and boasts generous front (61.2 inches) and rear (61.0 inches) track dimensions. Visually complementing this aggressive stance is angular bodywork set off by flared fender arches and bold fascia and side-cladding treatments that collectively foster the kind of "tough guy" persona historically favored by Ford truck types. On a far more practical front, the Escape's well-proportioned "footprint" works wonders toward eliminating the "tippy" feel one normally associates with vehicles that have an elevated center of gravity.